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D. A. HEWITT. TORPEDO REMOVING ATTACHMENT FOR HAND CARS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31 I9ZI.

Patented July 19, 1921..

DANIEL ALBERT HEWITT, 013 THOMASVILLE, NORTH GARQLINA.

seaoos.

Application filed March 3, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL ALBERT HEWITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thomasville, in the county of Davidson and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Torpedo-Removing Attachment for Hand-Cars and the like. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for hand cars and like structures whereby torpedoes which may be on the track in the path of the car can be removed from the track so that they will not explode under and derail the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient structure which can be applied readily to a hand car and which is constantly under the control of the operator, it being possible quickly to shift the device into or out of active position, means being employed for holding it socurely in active position.

Vith the foregoing and other ob ects 1n view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from th spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the pre-' ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hand car having the present improvements attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a hand car of any preferred construction and the same is provided with a standard 2 on which is fulcrumed a lever 3. The lower end of this lever is pivotally connected to one end of a bar 4 slidable within guides 5 at one side of the car and the movement of this bar in one direction is limited by a collar 6 secured to the bar. The bar 4- has a rack 7 thereon which meshes with a gear 8 secured to a transverse shaft 9. This shaft is mounted in bearings 10 at the front end of the car and is provided, directly over Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921..

Serial No. 449,515.

each of the rails R with a stiff brush 11 adapted to contact with the rails.

A keeper 12 in the form of an angular bracket is secured to the standard 2 and is adapted to be engaged by a bolt 13'connected to a small hand lever 1% mounted on the lever 3.

While the hand car is traveling along the rails the brushes 11 can be swung downwardly so as to press firmly against the rails and sweep therealong, the brushes being brougiit to these positions by shifting lever 3 so that the bolt 13 will engage the keeper 12. Thus should there be a torpedo fastened to one of the rails, the brush coming thereagainst will sweep the same out of position so that it will not be exploded by the car passing thereover. When desired lever 3 can be shifted out of the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to swing the brushes upwardly out of contact with the rails.

By providing an attachment such as de scribed the danger of derailing a hand car as the result of the explosion of a torpedo thereunder is avoided.

It is to be understood that the mechanism constituting this invention can be attached to any kind of a small car whether driven by hand or by power and it is not only useful in removing torpedoes but also for brushing away other obstructions on the rails. Although only one brush has been shown above each rail the number of brushes can be multiplied. Furthermore each brush instead of being made up of stiff bristles can be solid and of any suitable material.

What is claimed is The combination with a hand car or the like, of torpedo removing means including rail engaging brushes, a hand lever, and means operated by said lever for shifting the brushes into or out of contact with the rails thereunder, said means including a rack bar movable with the lever and a gear meshing with the rack bar and movable with the brushes.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa- Witnesses D. C. WAoRAn, W. (l. HARRIsoN. 

